Clothes-pounder



UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFIcE.

XVILLIAM W. BAIN AND WILLIAM M. BAIN, OF FERRIS, TEXAS.

CLOTHES-POUNDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,891, dated November 19, 1895.

Application filed August 22, 1895.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM WV. BAIN and WVILLIAM M. BAIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Ferris, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Founder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of laundry appliances which in their operation compel the suds-water to circulate through the clothing to be cleansed and thereby remove the grease and dirt therefrom.

The object of the invention is the construc tion of a clothes-pounder of simple formation and by means of which the desired results can be attained in a thorough and satisfactory manner and with the expenditure of a minimum amount of manual energy.

With these and like objects in view, which will become manifest as the nature of the invention is unfolded in the subjoined description, the improvement consists of the novel structural features which hereinafter will be more particularly outlined, and set forth in the appended claim, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a clothes-pounder constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the air-vents provided at the upper portion of the device.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

The main body 1 of the pounder is conical in form and is constructed of sheet metal,

. either tin or galvanized iron, and its lower edge is wired to prevent injurious contact thereof with the clothing. An annular depression 2 is spun therein a short distance from the apex and forms a seat for the outer edge portion of a horizontal diaphragm 3, which is located within the body and is secured to the sides thereof by soldering or in any convenient and desired manner. This diaphragm is centrally apertured and a short tube 4 is attached thereto at its lower end and extends vertically and passes through an opening formed at the apex of the body and projects a short distance therefrom and receives the staff or handle 5,

Serial No. 560,163. (No model.)

by means of which the device is manipulated when in use.

A vent-opening 6 is provided in the diaphragm 3, and a corresponding opening is formed in that portion of the main body 1 in vertical alignment with the opening 6, and a short tube 7 surrounds and connects the two openings and extends across the space formed between the diaphragm 3 and that portion of the body above the same. The tube 7 is of slightly larger diameter than the opening 6, and the marginal portion of the diaphraghm surrounding the opening 6 forms a seat for a ball-valve 8, by means of which the said vent 6 is closed under normal conditions and when lifting the pounder after the same has been depressed upon the clothing contained in a suitable receptacle. A cross-bar 9 is located at the upper end of the tube 7 and limits the upward movement of the ball-valve 8. To prevent the splashing and upward discharge of the suds-water upon the operator through the tube 7, a hood or deflector 10is provided and is placed over the upper end of the said tube and checks the upward rush of the sudswater and causes the same to be discharged into the receptacle without splashing upon the floor or the clothing of the attendant.

A supplemental frusto-conical body 11 is disposed within the body 1 and is attached at its upper end to the horizontal diaphragm 3, and its lower end terminates in about the same plane with the lower end of the main body 1. A notch 12 is formed in the upper end of the supplemental body 11 opposite the vent 6, so as to provide an escape for the air compressed in the upper portion thereof when the pounder is forced down upon the clothing to be cleansed.

The bodies 1 and 11 are of similar construction, and flare outwardly and downwardly from their upper ends and serve to provide an increased bearing-surface to engage with the clothing when the device is in active operation.

What is claimed is- A clothes pounder constructed substantially as specified, comprising a main body of conical form, a horizontal diaphragm secured to the sides of the body a short distance from the apex, a frusto-conical body attached at its upper end to the diaphragm and having its lower end terminating about in the plane of the lower end of the main body, and having a space between the opposing sides of thebodies, a tube connecting the diaphragm with the apex of the main body to brace and strengthen these parts and to receive the start, an air vent in the horizontal partition in line with a side of the inner body and communicating With the inner and the outer chambers, a Vertical tube surrounding the air vent and connecting the diaphragm with that portion of the main body in line therewith, and having a cross bar at its upper end to limit the upward movement of a valve provided to close the said air vent, and a hood or deflector arranged exterior to 15 the main body and placed over the upper end of the vertical tube, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto aifixed our signatures 20 in the presence of tWo witnesses.

WVILLIAM W. BAIN. XVILLIAM M. BAIN. \Vitnesses A. A. MGCRARY, J. E. GLOVER. 

